Marina(s) Report - Portugal - Sept. 2011

[Chuteman]

One member asked that I share Marina costs and rather than just numbers, I decided to add info/comments on those items that are important to me. I'll separate by Country

Boat Size - If You have a 8, 9, 10 or 11 meter boat - good on You. For those who go beyond 12 meters especially 12.499 BEWARE or your beam is beyond
3.99 -BEWARE because You might be subjected to arbitrary pricing or at least be bumped up to much higher often 15m pricing. Some marinas ask but most take measurements off your documents that are requested probably 90%.

Low Season Rate Changes - some are Sept 1, More Oct 1 but others Nov 1
so check and often not noted on their web page if they have one

My usual preference is to anchor out however this trip was unique so using marinas became usual.

Hopefully, it will be of use to others.
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Marina - Porto de Nazare
Location - Nazare, Portugal
Date - Sept, 2011
Price per night - 32.49 euro inc 23% vat
Protected - somewhat
Security - locked gate & security
Wi-Fi - NO
Fuel - Did not inquire
Toilets/Showers - D- not recommended
Elec/Water - yes, but I do not use or remember details
Atmosphere - Com’l Fishing port, small space for visitors - I was rafted 3rd from dock
Other Services - Not really - long dusty walk to town
Return? - No, only if I needed emergency shelter however Captain Mike (UK harbormaster) & wife were charming, knowledgeable & helpful
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Marina - Marina de Cascais
Location - Cascais (near Lisbon), Portugal
Date - Sept, 2011
Price per night - 54.12 euro incl 23% vat
Protected - Yes, very
Security - locked gates & guards
Wi-Fi - Yes, but variable reception
Fuel - Yes to stb at entrance - go to station bldg not marina office
Toilets/Showers - A - very good
Elec/Water - think it was included
Atmosphere - professional, clean, organized & large marina
Other Services - everything available on site or walk into town
Return? - Absolutely even though expensive in season - Train to
Lisbon available in town(cosmopolitan suburb) - about 20 min walk
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Marina - Marina de Lagos - along side slip & pontoons
Location - Lagos, Portugal
Date - Sept, 2011
Price per night - 60.27 euro inc 23% vat
Protected - Yes
Security - Locked gates & patrol
Wi-Fi - Yes, reception variable - used local cafe instead
Fuel - Yes, to Stb just before reception docks & bridge
Toilets/Showers - B+ - good
Elec/Water - Yes, can’t remember if included
Atmosphere - very touristy, lots of condo/apt surrounding -
Other Services - supermarket about 10min walk, did not see others
Return? - Maybe, docks were fine & lots of wintering crews but not cheap
in season
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[crisjones]

Chuteman,

A very useful and comprehensive set of posts that will be helpful to lots of people.

However you have not specified the size of your boat so we do not know what sort of price band you are quoting - I assume the quoted prices are for your own boat but is it <12m, >12m or even >15m?

 

[maxi77]

In general the Portuguese charge by the berth, rather than your boat size. If just a few nights you may get a free upgrade to a longer berth but if you are staying for long you will always pay more for the longer finger. Most of the marinas have websites with prices so it is easy to find out what the cost will be. Discounts still seem to be available for long term stays.

In Nazare there is fuel on the port hand as you enter, it is run by the garage on the main road so you have to walk up and prepay then walk up and get your change. If not 24 hours certainly long hours we entered just after first light and had no problems. We had bikes so the town was more within reach. It is a very pleasant Portuguese seaside resort, far more pleasant than the rather run down fishing port. The bar/shop by the marina was freindly if basic and compared to Arcachon the showers/toilets were very pleasant though I would agree perhaps not the best.

I am surprised you paid more in Lagos than Cascais which is normally by a long way the most expensive. We did not stop in Cascais but carried on to Sines, small pleasant cheap and the birthplace of Vaso da Gama.

 

[chinita]

In general the Portuguese charge by the berth, rather than your boat size.

Which marinas?

Not on the Algarve. I have been here for the past six years and always been charged by the band my boat length falls in to.

The rates are published in bands with sub-bands for wider beamed boats.

Example:

http://www.marinadeportimao.com.pt/tabela-de-precos/tabela-de-precos-marina.html

 

[maxi77]

Which marinas?

Not on the Algarve. I have been here for the past six years and always been charged by the band my boat length falls in to.

The rates are published in bands with sub-bands for wider beamed boats.

Example:

http://www.marinadeportimao.com.pt/tabela-de-precos/tabela-de-precos-marina.html

Exactly and each berth is for one of those bands. They are flexible for short stays but not for long stays, they are not going to sell you a berth they can sell for more to a bigger boat even if they have empty berths.

 

[GrahamM376]

Which marinas?

Not on the Algarve. I have been here for the past six years and always been charged by the band my boat length falls in to.

The rates are published in bands with sub-bands for wider beamed boats.
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That's what I find on the Algarve on occasional visits to marinas but once over the border into Spain, we've been charged for berth size which can be annoying. Mazagon is the worst for this practice "sorry sir, we will have to put you in a 15 metre berth, no 12's available". Funny how they find correct ones for visiting Spanish boats!

 

[macd]

I've not been in an Algarve marina, but certainly all the EPPA marinas (both Atlantic and Med Andalucia) specifically charge by berth length, although they seem more flexible on this in the present economic downturn.

 

[chinita]

That's what I find on the Algarve on occasional visits to marinas but once over the border into Spain, we've been charged for berth size which can be annoying. Mazagon is the worst for this practice "sorry sir, we will have to put you in a 15 metre berth, no 12's available". Funny how they find correct ones for visiting Spanish boats!

That happened to us in Chipiona. I said, ok I will go on to the 15m berth and leave if a larger boat comes in. It cut no ice.

 

[idpnd]

I've seen this in Barbate (Spain) - cheeky fxxxs!!!

 

[Chuteman]

Size - slightly over

crisjones: Thought that complaining about over 12.49 would give clear hint
but since you asked specifically = 12.75 x 4.10......or the same as QE2 according to some marinas........arrrgh

Berth vs Size - Only place that was "clear" was La Linnea, Spain

Nazare - since I got last "spot" that day - although I saw a 50+ Amel
come in much later........I was rafted outside of 2 other boats - maybe
they charged by berth.

Cascais & Lagos definitely charged by boat size...unless they converted
it to a berth behind the scene......in both cases I was next to boats
of all different sizes on Visitors pontoon

 

[Chuteman]

Higher Charges

More at Lagos vs Cascais - when the numbers got that High - I was in
complete "shock" so not brain activity noted.

I liked Cascais much more